Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

me."cup."practice,"oil"gone."SHALL OUR CHURCH CONTINUE TO OBSERVECLOSE COMMUNIONREPORT OF THE COMMITTEE TOSTUDY PAPER NO. 8The petition from the Santa Ana session makes two proposals:A. That to Chapter XXV of the Declaration and Testimony, respecting "TheSacraments,"paragraph 3, which reads"The Lord's Supper was instituted byChrist, in order to show forth his death,and as a special means of communionbetween himself and his people. It isadministered only by a lawful ministerof the word, to such baptized persons as,making a credible profession of theirfaith, have a correspondingshall be added this statement: "andmake the followingasknowledgments ofthe essential purpose and meaning ofthe Lord's Supper:1. An acknowledgment that the LordJesus Christ is the eternal Son of Godwho became man, and continues to beGod and Man in two distinct naturesand one person for ever. "This do inremembrance ofLuke 22:192. An acknowledgment that the death ofChrist was a substitutionary atonement for the sins of many. "Ye doshow forth the Lord's death." 1 Cor.11:26.3. An acknowledgment that the LordJesus Christ is now the risen, ascended, and reigning Lord, who will surelycome again to judge the world inrighteousness and inaugurate thekingdom of glory. "Till He Come." 1Cor. 11:26.4. An acknowledgment that seif-examination is necessary on the part of onewho would worthilypartake of thesymbols of the body and blood of ourLord. "But let a man examine himself and so let him eat of the breadand drink of the1 Cor. 11:28.5. An acknowledgment that the scriptures of the old and New Testamentsare the Word of God,and the soleguide for the believer in matters offaith and conduct. "Heaven and earthshall pass away, but my words shallnot pass Mt. 24:35 "Till heavaway."en and earth pass, one jot or one tittleshall in no wise pass from the law,till all be fulfilled." Matt. 5:18.B. That Errors 6 and 8 of ChapterXXII of the Declaration and Testimonybe deleted.Error 6That any person may be admitted to communion who opposes anyof the terms of church-fellowship.128Error 8That occasional communionmay be extended to persons who shouldnot be received to constant fellowship.Your Committee to study this papercomments :The Church's position of a Close Sacrament has been a source of disturbancefor some years. Thrice in the last decade it has been discussed on the floor ofSynod. The position of a close sacramenthas been steadfastly upheld.Still earnest, honest, loyal membersof the Synod have differing opinions onthe matter.The petition before us seeks in an orderly fashion to present a solutionthrough a modification of our presentposition.On the basis of this paper alone, andwithout discussion and support from thepetitioners the Committee cannot recommend immediate adoption.Previously, all discussion of the matter has been held to the floor of theSynod. If delegates wished to report onthe discussions to their congregationsthey did so, if theywished not to report, their people had no way of hearing the discussions either for or againstthe matter.Your committee is of the opinion thatthe time has come to present public information to the members of the church,that they may become acquainted withthe case for Close Communion as wellas the opinions against it.Your Committee therefore recommends :1. That through the year the CovenanterWitness be asked to publish as manyas two selected articles per month ondifferent viewpoints of requirementsfor admission.2. That to the Editorial Committee ofthe Publication Board be given the final decision on what articles shall bepublished.3. That Dr. J. G. Vos be asked to collectarticles favoring the present position,and Dr. Walter McCarroll articlesfavoring modification,and that allcomments, questions, communicationson the subject be channeled throughthese two men.4. That Dr. Vos and Dr. McCarroll shallpresent material not to exceed onepage in any single issue of the Covenanter Witness.5. That the present petition be laid onthe table for this year.6. That it be brought to the floor ofSynod for action in the present ormodified form for action next year.7. That at the head of the page shall beprinted "The Reformed Presbyterianstandard of admission to the sacrament is that commonly referred toas 'Close Communion'."Respectfully submitted,Resolution adopted:Remo I. Robb, ChairmanLester KilpatrickClaude C. BrownE. J. M. DicksonGeorge D. Hill"That Synod directs that all publicdiscussion of the Sacramental questionbe limited to the pages of the Covenanter Witness and that no typewritten,mimeographed,sent through the Church."WONDERFULor printed articles beBUSINESSOne automobile factory stated,"OURS IS A WONDERFUL BUSINESS."Is not our Women's MissionarySociety a wonderful business? There isno other that means so much to so manypeople. As His messengers we can carrythe faith of Jesus Christ our Lord toall people. We may claim that to be themost wonderful business in the world.It is wonderful because it means somuch to so many. Salvation from sinfor time and eternity is a product without equal. It is wonderful because itbrings joy and inward peace. It is wonderful because it reconciles man andGod.We have freedom of speechpressof theof religion. We value these freedoms. However the real freedom of Salvation is inherent in the product. Salvation is freedom from sin and from itsconsequences now and forever. Whatmore wonderful business is there thanthe proclaiming of salvation throughfaith in Jesus Christ. Let us all be ACTIVE BUSINESS WOMEN. OURS ISA WONDERFUL BUSINESS.An Indian version of the 23rd Psalmmakes the words, "He anointeth myhead with read : "He puts his handsupon my head and all the tired isCOVENANTER WITNESS